Feed-trough



(No Model.)

G. WJDUNKS.

FEED TROUGH. No. 495,666.

Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

@eorye WI; Liar Uia'rTn STATES GEORGE W. DUNKS,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF HOPE, KANSAS.

FEED-TROUGH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,666, dated April 18, 1893.-

Application filed November 1, 1892- Serial No. 50,695. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. DUNKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hope, in the county of Dickinson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Feed-'lroughs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention, which relates to automatic feed-troughs, refers more particularly to improvements on a similar invention, for which Letters I atent were granted me June 28, 1892, No. 478,052; and it has for its object to provide a feed-trough of this character, adapted to feed all kinds of stockin a simple, economical and effective manner.

My invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of parts all of which will hereinafter be fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved feed-trough, parts being broken away to illustrate theinterior mechanism. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same; andFig. 2 is a similar view of a modification hereinafter referred to. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views illustrating my improvements adapted and arranged for use as a horse-feeder.

My other patent referred to is constructed more especially for use as a hog feed-trough, and in such construction intermediate receiving chambers are employed which receive the feed from the main bin, and feed it to the troughs proper.

In the present case, to provide for a more positive and uniform feed, and to enable the use of a bin of large capacity, Iarrange such bin to extend down to the troughs to discharge directly into such troughs, its feed openings having feed slides or cut-offs constructed similarly to those described in my other patent.

Referring now to the drawings, A indicates a hopper-shaped bin of suitable dimensions, the upper end of which has alid B. This bin has its side walls so inclined that the material will be forced toward the bottom and front wall, A, and such wall has a series of feed-openings C which open into a longitudinal shallow trough D formed by the side and end timbers E, E, inclined on their inner faces as shown, and the timberor support E on the back side of the bin A. At apoint above the openings 0 are disposed transverse rods F upon which are hung, for lateral movement, agitators G, the lower ends 9 of which project through the openings 0 into the troughs to be engaged by the nose of the animal.

To facilitate the feed of the grain, tapered blocks H are placed between the agitators G in the bottom of the trough.

I, indicates the stalls, and J the planks for the hogs to stand on, and to prevent them from rooting up dirt into the trough.

By referring more particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be noticed that the feed openingsCin the bin are at a point below the upper edges of the trough D. This construction while affording a simple and effective means for feeding, also permits the use of a feed water tank Kat one end,which connects by a pipe L with the trough D to supply water thereto, the amount of supply being governed by a valve in the pipe L of any suitable construction, which in practice I prefer to be operated automatically by a float (not shown) in the tank K. It will be noticed, when the trough is filled with water up to any desired point, as for instance to the point indicated by X on the drawings, that the lower portion of the grain is thereby soaked, and the dampness of such portion will swell that portion immediately above it, while the upper portion will remain dry. Thus, as the hogs eat the feed soaked in the trough, the agitators will knock the swelled grain into the water below it. At one end, the trough D has a plugged outlet D whereby the water can at any time be drawn off, and the material fed to the hogs dry.

In Figs. 3, 4c and 5, I have illustrated my improvements more especially adapted as a horse feed-trough, and such trough is principally designed for horses that are in the habit of getting choked, throwing out, or otherwise wasting their grain, or eating too fast. In this construction, the bin proper is divided into tWo compartments a, a, one of which, a, serves as a feed receptacle, while the other, a, is the trough proper, such compartments being divided by a division board a in the lower edge of which is formed the feed passage a the size of which is determined by the adjustable slide b. It will be noticed that the side walls of the compartment Ct are inclined to lead the feed to the discharge passage a and through such passage projects the nose piece of the agitator G, and to this agitator 1s fixedly held a transverse stirrer finger G as sho wn. As fine feed is generally used in this kind of feed-trough, I arrange the slide 1) to move vertically in a metal casing or shield, which prevents any of the feed getting behlndthe slide. To the said slide is secured a hand 11ft b the upper end of which is bent out to form a hand piece If. The inner faces of the upper ends of the lift rods have a series of notches b which engage lock ledges b on the guide plates b and are held to their ad usted positions by coiled springs 12 arranged substantially as shown.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a double trough or large feeder which is especially intended for use as a hog trough, the bin proper being provided with an inclined or A shaped bottom, and with troughs and stalls on both sides, openings in the end, (as shown) or in the top, belng provided for feeding the material to the bin. This bin is supported on runners 10, 10, and a longitudinal air space 20 extends under the A shaped bottom, which is large enough for dogs and cats to pass through, and prevents rats from piling up dirt or eating holes in the bin. This construction of feeder may be used either with or without the water tank attachment.

In the construction last referred to, the feed openings at the bottom extend the entire length of the bin (on both sides) and are large enough to feed snapped corn, corn on the ear,

or shelled corn, and can be closed tight if desired by the slides.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be seen that by constructing a feed trough in the manner described, the same can be adapted for use for all kinds of stock. The same is exceedingly simple and easily manipulated.

I desire it understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the exact details shown; the principle features of novelty being the agitator, the inclined A bottom, the inclined blocks between the agitators, the feed opening and slides, whereby the flow of the feed can be regulated or closed off entirely from the stock.

My improvements can be applied to almost any kind of bin or building.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In an automatic feeder, the combination with the feed holding bin, having an inclined bottom, and an outlet at said bottom, and a trough arranged to receive the material from the bin, of a cut-off slide, a casing arranged to receive and protect said slide the liftingframe 19 formed of the doubled rod bent at its upper end to form the hand-piece b and having the series of notches b formedin the inner faces of its upper end portion, the guideplates I) having the lock-ledges b and spring devices for holding the rod 1) to their adjusted positions; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. DUNKS.

Witnesses:

W. W. THOMPSON, JOHN A. FORREST. 

